Device having a load arm for installing and removing a component of a gas turbine

ABSTRACT

A device for installing and removing a component in a gas turbine, includes a rail system for fastening to the gas turbine, on which rail system at least one runner is provided, which can be moved along a predetermined movement axis. A load arm is fastened to the runner, which load arm is designed to be pivoted in at least two spatial directions, and wherein the load arm has a fastening segment, which is designed to form a detachable connection to the component in question. The load arm has three joints each having a defined pivot axis, of which pivot axes preferably at least two are parallel to each other, wherein the joints each have a pivoting resistance device, which pivoting resistance devices are designed to set the pivoting resistance of the respective joints.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2015/069313 filed Aug. 24, 2015, and claims the benefit thereof. The International Application claims the benefit of European Application No. EP14182304 filed Aug. 26, 2014. All of the applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for installing and removing a component of a gas turbine.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Gas turbine maintenance occasionally also involves maintenance and/or replacement of the components located in the casing of the gas turbine. These components are for example parts of the burner, or transition pieces, which serve for example as a fluidic connection between the combustion chamber and the turbine inlet (of the expansion turbine) of a gas turbine. Transition pieces of this type are described for example in European patent application EP 1 752 612 A1.

Installation and removal of such a component of a gas turbine sometimes requires that the burner first be removed from the casing of the gas turbine in order to expose a burner opening which is defined by the burner mating flange on the casing of the gas turbine. With the burner removed, the component which is for example assigned to the respective burner is exposed after access into the casing and can accordingly be removed. The weight of such a component, for example of a transition piece, is typically between 50 and 80 kg, and therefore this component cannot readily be removed manually from the casing of a gas turbine. In some countries, legal requirements also specify supported handling, such that purely manual manipulation would not even be permissible. Such requirements primarily serve to avoid the risk of accidents and injury. Furthermore, the shapes of various components of a gas turbine are generally unwieldy to the point that removal of the components, for example from the relevant burner openings, cannot be effected with a purely linear movement, but rather they have to be moved by means of an appropriate tipping movement with a three-dimensional carrying curve out of the casing. A tipping movement of this type can, in this context, be composed of a number of individual tipping movements to give an overall tipping movement.

The prior art, which is known internally to the applicant, typically uses for this purpose chain hoists or ropes with simultaneous manual application of forces by the operating or maintenance personnel, such that the described tipping movement can be effected more or less manually.

This approach for removing a component has the drawback, first of all, that it is not possible to work safely without the risk of damage to the component and/or to the burner opening. The considerable weight of the component means that even small lapses in attention are sufficient to cause permanent damage, in particular to the burner mating flange, by unintentional impacts. In addition, such an impact can damage the component itself, which would have significant effects on the flow conditions at or in the component unless the latter is replaced.

Also disadvantageous is the fact that the approach known from the prior art requires the involvement of at least two members of the operating or maintenance personnel in order to execute the described tipping movement with sufficient safety. This implies a relatively high burden in terms of personnel simply in order to remove a component from the casing of the gas turbine.

Another device from the prior art is described for example in GB 2,306,155 A, which describes a gripping device which is mounted in articulated fashion and is intended for installing and removing burners of a gas turbine. The gripping device is moved toward and away from the burners by means of a rail system such that the burners can be handled in a targeted manner. The rail system itself is moved on two encircling rails which surround the circumference of the gas turbine.

Another device from the prior art is known from EP 2 070 663 A1, which describes an installation arrangement that is anchored to the floor and is intended for installing a burner or other hot-gas-conveying parts. The installation arrangement has at least one grasping beam which can be moved perpendicular to the floor along a column lift.

These devices known from the prior art have the drawback that their use is very specifically as a maintenance tool since on one hand their space requirement is very high. In this context, the device of GB 2,306,155 A requires for example the installation of encircling rails which surround the entire circumference of the gas turbine. The device of EP 2 070 663 A1 even requires a floor anchor which is normally quite unsuitable for space-saving and mobile maintenance tools. In this context, it must for example also be considered that the space ratios in the region of the burner opening are sometimes insufficient to permit simple installation or removal in the context of maintenance of the components. Due to the arrangement of a great many lines, pipes or cables in the region of the casing, it is namely possible for space to be very restricted, which markedly restricts the space in which the operating or maintenance personnel can move. It is thus for example possible according to the prior art that lines or pipes and cables must be removed before safe installation and removal of the components themselves can be made possible.

What is more, the devices known from the prior art are very complex and difficult to operate and furthermore require a lot of effort to set up, which is to be avoided especially in the context of maintenance work.

In addition, the devices known from the prior art require motorized support during handling for installing or removing a burner or other hot-gas-conveying parts. However, the provision of such a motorized support is not only cost-intensive but also onerous in terms of provision and handling. In addition, careless operation of such a device can even increase the risk potential for maintenance personnel, for example if operation is not carried out sufficiently carefully and competently.

Also, the solutions known from the prior art are relatively inflexible since they only permit movement within a relatively small spatial angle and thus restrict handleability.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

From these drawbacks known from the prior art, there emerges a technical need to propose a suitable device which can obviate these drawbacks during installation and removal of a component of a gas turbine, especially during maintenance work. In particular, the device should be designed to use a working space that is as small as possible, such that the installation and removal of burners or other hot-gas-conveying parts can take place even on gas turbines whose burner openings might be relatively inaccessible owing to lines, cables and pipes. At the same time, however, the device should permit flexible handling within a relatively large spatial angle. Furthermore, the safety with which a component can be installed and removed should be increased, in order to thus be able to avoid damage to the casing and to the component itself. Furthermore, the operating maintenance personnel should be able to handle the devices in a safe and controlled manner, wherein the freedom of movement of the device should support the necessary movements during installation or removal. In other words, the intention is to allow force-saving handling if the device is operated manually.

These objects upon which the invention is based are achieved with a device as claimed.

In particular, the objects upon which the invention is based are achieved with a device for installing and removing a component of a gas turbine, comprising a rail system preferably for attaching to the gas turbine, on which rail system there is provided at least one runner which can be displaced along a predetermined displacement axis, wherein a load arm is attached to the runner and is designed to be pivoted in at least two spatial directions, and wherein the load arm has an attachment section which is designed to establish a releasable connection with the relevant component, and wherein the load arm has three articulations each having one defined pivot axis, of which pivot axes all three are mutually parallel, wherein the articulations each have a pivot-resistance device which are designed to set the pivot resistance of the respective articulation.

The concept of the invention is therefore based on providing a rail system, preferably attaching such a system to the gas turbine and in particular to the casing of the gas turbine, on which system a load arm is mounted. The load arm itself is attached to a runner for the rail system and can be displaced along a displacement axis defined by the rail system. This displacement axis runs, for example, typically perpendicular to the surface defined by the burner mating flange on the casing of the gas turbine. In that regard, a component held by the load arm can already be displaced along one spatial direction.

However, this linear movement along the displacement axis is not sufficient to carry out the tipping movement necessary for installation and removal of a component. In that regard, the invention also provides that the load arm can be pivoted in at least two spatial directions such that it is possible to carry out an appropriate pivoting movement for installing and removing the component, possibly also while moving along the displacement axis, as long as the component is secured to the load arm.

Pivoting in two spatial directions is in this context in particular pivoting in one spatial plane and is defined by two spatial directions which are typically arranged perpendicular to one another. In that regard, pivoting of a load arm always takes place in at least two spatial directions. One of the two spatial directions can in this case be identical with the spatial direction predefined by the displacement axis, such that the component can in fact be pivoted only in a single plane.

A preferred attachment of the rail system to the gas turbine must of course be sufficiently stable during replacement or installation, such that accordingly the component can move only along the displacement axis or in the spatial directions available to the load arm. If the rail system is not attached to the gas turbine, other provisions must be made in order to permit sufficiently safe and stable load support.

In order that the component can be moved essentially freely using the load arm, it is particularly preferred for the attachment section to be fixed to the end of the load arm. This means that, during pivoting of the load arm, the extent of the load arm itself scarcely encroaches upon the component.

The releasable connection between the component and the attachment section serves in this context for the only temporary attachment of the component to the load arm until for example the component has been introduced or removed through the corresponding burner opening in the casing of the gas turbine. After appropriate introduction, for example, this connection can again be dissolved in order for the load arm to be once again available for a new installation or removal of another component. In that regard, the releasable nature of the connection is an essential requirement of the invention.

Now, if a component is fixed to the attachment section of the device for installation and removal, it is possible, by virtue of the degrees of freedom of movement provided by the rail system and the load arm, to execute a non-linear tipping movement which is required in order to install the component in the casing of the gas turbine, or to remove this component from the casing. If the rail system is attached to the gas turbine, the device requires the use of neither chains nor a hoist, and hence the possibly restricted space in the region of the burner opening is much less restricted for maintenance of the gas turbine during installation and removal of the component. Accordingly, the weight of the component can for example be fully supported by the device in order that the weight forces can be introduced in their entirety into the gas turbine, in particular into the casing of the gas turbine.

Furthermore, the load arm itself is designed such that it is simple for the maintenance personnel to operate. However, due to the freedom of movement of the component on the load arm being restricted, only a predefined movement space is available, which can additionally prevent the component unintentionally colliding with the casing of the gas turbine during installation and removal.

By virtue of the component load being supported by the rail system, and by virtue of the restricted freedom of movement on the rail system while at the same time providing for a possible pivot movement by means of the load arm, it is thus possible for a component to be safely and efficiently installed in and removed from the gas turbine.

It is further provided according to the invention that the load arm has three articulations each having one defined pivot axis, of which pivot axes all three are mutually parallel. The relevant articulations thus permit targeted guiding of the component on the load arm, wherein the guiding forces during pivoting of the individual articulations permit mechanical support for the weight of the component. By virtue of the provision of three articulations, it is possible to perform a space-saving pivoting movement of the component with simultaneous linear introduction movement of the component for example into the burner opening of the casing, and thus achieve efficient installation in and removal from the casing of the gas turbine.

It is provided, according to the concept of the invention, that the load arm has three articulations each having one defined pivot axis, of which pivot axes all are mutually parallel. Thus, the pivot axes again allow the component attached to the load arm to pivot only in one pivot plane, wherein the three articulations permit particularly flexible handling of the component during installation and removal.

It is also provided according to the invention that the articulations each have a pivot-resistance device which are designed to set the pivot resistance of the respective articulation. The pivot-resistance devices are in particular designed as clamping devices which comprise a bushing and a shaft running therein, wherein the frictional resistance during rotation of the shaft in the bushing can for example be adjusted by means of a set screw which interacts with a friction plate or friction pad that is pressed against the shaft with a predetermined contact pressure. The pivot-resistance device thus protects the maintenance personnel operating the load arm from any unintentional pivot movements of the component that is attached to the load arm, which may come about due to the weight of the component and in spite of the care taken by the maintenance personnel. Owing to the pivot-resistance device, part of the weight force of the component can be transferred in a targeted manner to the articulations so as to be able to avoid free, practically frictionless movement of the component. For one thing, this enhances the control of the movement of the component and also the application of the force which is required to effect the tipping movement of the component on the load arm. In particular, it is namely possible to that end to temporarily adjust the individual pivot-resistance devices on the articulations such that those articulations which at a given time are not needed for carrying out a pivot movement can for example be subjected to a very high pivot resistance.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the load arm has articulations which allow the load arm to be pivoted in exactly two spatial directions. As already stated above, these two spatial directions are perpendicular to one another and define a pivot plane. Pivoting in another, third spatial direction, which is perpendicular to this pivot plane, is therefore impossible. This limiting of the freedom of movement of the load arm also results in a lower risk, during installation or removal of the component, of the operating and maintenance personnel moving the component incorrectly or possibly injuring themselves. Rather, the restricted possibility for movement provides a safe available spatial region via which the component can be introduced into or removed from the gas turbine. At the same time, no force is required on the part of the maintenance personnel, for example in order to move the component in another, third spatial direction. As already indicated above, one of the two spatial directions according to the embodiment can be identical to the spatial direction defined by the displacement axis.

According to one refinement of the preceding embodiment, it is provided that one articulation is attached to the runner, in particular in a fixed position, and the pivot axis of the articulation runs essentially perpendicular to the displacement axis which is defined by the rail system. Therefore, the load of the component attached to the load arm can efficiently be transferred via the runner into the rail system, it being possible, by combining the linear movement along the displacement axis with the pivot movement about the relevant articulation, to carry out a very space-saving tipping movement of the component.

According to another particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a first and a second articulation are connected to one another with a first connecting section, and the second and third articulations are connected to one another with a second connecting section, wherein the two connecting sections provide different distances between the respective articulations. In other words, the connection sections have different extents, typically perpendicular to the course of the pivot axes, such that two mutually connected articulations are at a first distance from one another, and the two other articulations are at a second, different distance from one another. This makes it possible to combine two pivoting or tipping movements, which permits particularly flexible handling of the component that is to be installed or removed. Due to the different lengths of the two connection sections, the movement angle when carrying out the tipping movement can be set flexibly with regard to the available opening in the casing of the gas turbine.

According to one refinement of this concept, it can be provided that the attachment section is directly or indirectly fixed to the end of one of the articulations and a connecting section which is also fixed to the articulation in question is longer than the respective other connecting section.

According to another, also preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the articulations each have an immobilizing device which is designed to immobilize the respective articulation. In particular, the immobilizing device can be identical to the pivot-resistance device, i.e. the pivot resistance can be set with the aid of the pivot-resistance device so as to prevent a pivoting movement. On the other hand, however, it is also possible to provide the immobilizing device independently of the pivot-resistance device. Thus, the immobilizing device permits only two setting states, namely a loose state and a secured state. In turn, the immobilizing devices markedly increase the flexibility during handling of the component on the load arm.

According to another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the attachment section is directly or indirectly connected to one of the articulations. In particular, the connection is configured such that the attachment section is arranged on the end of the pivot arm. In this context, and as already explained above, the arrangement at the end permits handling of the load arm without the component coming into undesired contact with the other components of the load arm. Directly or indirectly connecting the attachment section to an articulation further increases the flexibility of handling of the component during installation and removal.

Furthermore, it is provided according to another concept that the attachment section is designed to be connected to the burner-side end of the component, in particular to a transition piece. Consequently, the entire component can be inserted for example into the burner opening without it having to be removed from the load arm in the meantime. The removal can for example take place once the component is fully inserted and also appropriately attached in the gas turbine. Since the burner-side end of the component is arranged closest to the burner, it is necessary, according to the embodiment, merely to introduce a small portion of the load arm into the burner opening in order to mount the component. Again, this is also space-saving and advantageous.

According to another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the attachment section has a lifting device which is preferably designed to move at least one part of the attachment section parallel to one of the pivot axes, in particular parallel to the locally closest pivot axis. This makes it possible, in particular, to perform fine adjustment of the component, for example once the latter has already been inserted into the burner opening but it then proves necessary to perform a suitable height adjustment. Such a lifting device thus permits particularly flexible handling. The lifting device is in particular designed as a linear transmission driven with a crank. If the load arm can be pivoted only in two spatial directions, such a lifting device is in particular designed to move the component perpendicular to the pivot plane.

In the following, the invention is explained in detail with reference to individual figures. In this context, it is to be noted that the figures are to be understood as merely schematic, and this represents no restriction of the enablement of the invention.

It is also to be noted that, in the figures, those technical features provided with identical reference signs are intended to have an identical technical effect.

Furthermore, the intention is to claim any combination of the technical features described below, insofar as this combination can provide a solution to the problems upon which the invention is based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a side view in perspective of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention for installing and removing a component, to which is attached a corresponding component;

FIG. 2 is an isolated perspective representation of the load arm of the embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, of the device for installing and removing a component;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device, shown in FIG. 1, for installing and removing a component, with a component attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of an embodiment of the load arm according to the invention, as represented for example in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the device, according to the invention, for installing and removing a component, with a component attached thereto, during execution of a tipping movement for installing or removing such a component relative to a burner opening of the casing of a gas turbine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention for installing and removing a component 11 in a gas turbine 10 (not shown here). In this context, the device 1 comprises a rail system 20 which has two mutually parallel rails 21 on which there is movably arranged a runner 22 that can move along a displacement axis VA. The rail system 20 is designed to be attached to a gas turbine 10, in particular to the casing 5 of a gas turbine 10, in the region of the burner opening 13 (not shown here).

A load arm 30 is attached to the runner 22 and has a total of three articulations 31, 32 and 33 which in each case permit pivoting about a respectively defined pivot axis SA (not shown here). The three articulations 31, 32, 33 are in each case connected to one another via a first connection section 41 or via a second connection section 42, and thus permit a combined pivot movement of the individual articulations 31, 32, 33.

At the end of the load arm 30 there is provided an attachment section 40 which is designed to establish a releasable connection with a component 11 that is in the form of a transition piece. In this context, the component 11 is temporarily connected to the attachment section 40 at the burner-side end such that, during installation and removal, the weight of the component 11 can be borne by the rail system 20 via the attachment section 40 and the articulations 31, 32, 33.

In the present case, the articulations 31, 32, 33 are designed such that the individual pivot axes SA are all mutually parallel. This permits pivoting of the component 11 on the load arm 30 in only two spatial directions, or in a defined pivot plane (not explicitly shown here), relative to which the respective pivot axes SA are normal.

In order to be able to appropriately set the pivot resistances of the individual articulations, each articulation 31, 32, 33 has its own pivot-resistance device 34, 35, 36 such that a corresponding pivot resistance can be made to counteract pivoting about the relevant pivot axis SA. In the present case, the pivot-resistance devices 34, 35, 36 are identical to an immobilizing device 37, 38, 39 which permits complete immobilization of the individual articulations 31, 32, 33. Immobilization makes pivoting of the respective articulations 31, 32, 33 no longer possible.

Now, if a component 11 is installed in or removed from a gas turbine, it is necessary to first secure the component 11 to the attachment section 40. By virtue of a combined movement along the displacement axis VA, imparted by the runner 22 running on the rails 21, and by the pivot movements about the three pivot axes SA of the articulations 31, 32, 33, the operating and maintenance personnel, suitably coordinated, can guide the component into or out of the burner opening of the casing. In order to support the individual movement sequences, the individual pivot-resistance devices 34, 35 and 36, or the immobilizing devices 37, 38, 39 can be set temporarily, and hence the number of degrees of freedom of movement can be temporarily reduced. During operation, this can save effort for the operating personnel, or can make it possible to better control the precision of the individual movement procedures.

The attachment section 40 also comprises a lifting device 45 which is designed as a linear transmission driven by a crank. The associated lifting movement, which can be brought about using the lifting device 45, runs parallel to the individual pivot axes SA and thus permits fine adjustment of the component during installation in the gas turbine, or alignment of the attachment section 40 relative to the burner-side end of the component 11 during removal.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, of the load arm 30, but with both the rail system 20 and the component 11 being omitted. The pivot axes of the three articulations 31, 32, 33, which are all parallel to one another, are now clearly visible. Also, these pivot axes SA run perpendicular to the displacement axis VA defined by the rail system 20.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, of the device 1 according to the invention, wherein in this case the different lengths of the connection sections 41 and 42 are clearly visible. The different lengths provide improved flexibility when carrying out the tipping procedure for guiding the component into or out of the gas turbine.

FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the load arm 30, as shown for example in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention, which is illustrated during execution of the tipping movement necessary for installation or removal. In this case, the device 1 is attached to the casing 5 of a gas turbine 10 by means of suitable attachment bolts in the region of the burner mating flange 12. In this context, the burner mating flange 12 normally serves for attachment of the burner flange (not shown here) in order to attach the burner to the casing 5. The burner mating flange 12 also defines a burner opening 13 through which the component must be guided into or out of the gas turbine. Due to the shape of the component, the component 11 can be guided into the casing 5 of the gas turbine 10, in order that it can then be attached at its intended location, only by means of a suitable tipping movement. This tipping movement can be carried out by combining a linear movement along the displacement axis VA defined by the rail system 20 and a pivot movement about the pivot axes SA of the articulations 31, 32 and 33.

Further embodiments are to be found in the subclaims. 

1.-10. (canceled)
 11. A device for installing and removing a component of a gas turbine, comprising a rail system for attaching to the gas turbine, on which rail system there is provided at least one runner which can be displaced along a predetermined displacement axis, wherein a load arm is attached to the runner and is designed to be pivoted in at least two spatial directions, and wherein the load arm has an attachment section which is designed to establish a releasable connection with the relevant component, wherein the load arm has three articulations each having one defined pivot axis, of which pivot axes all are mutually parallel, wherein the articulations each have a pivot-resistance device which are designed to set the pivot resistance of the respective articulation.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the load arm has articulations which allow the load arm to be pivoted in exactly two spatial directions.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein one articulation is attached to the runner and the pivot axis of the articulation runs essentially perpendicular to the displacement axis.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a first and a second articulation are connected to one another with a first connecting section, and the second and a third articulation are connected to one another with a second connecting section, wherein the two connecting sections provide different distances between the respective articulations.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the attachment section is directly or indirectly fixed to the end of one of the articulations and a connecting section which is also fixed to the articulation in question is longer than the respective other connecting section.
 16. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the articulations each have an immobilizing device which is designed to immobilize the respective articulation.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the attachment section is directly or indirectly connected to one of the articulations.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the attachment section is designed to be connected to the burner-side end of the relevant component.
 19. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the attachment section has a lifting device.
 20. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the lifting device is designed to move at least one part of the attachment section parallel to one of the pivot axes.
 21. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lifting device is designed to move at least one part of the attachment section parallel to the locally closest pivot axis.
 22. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein one articulation is attached to the runner in a fixed position.
 23. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the attachment section is designed to be connected to the burner-side end of the relevant component to a transition piece. 